title: Traumatic brain lacerations in children: surgical results and follow-up.
abstract: 75 children ranging in age from 3 months to 14 years, operated on for post-traumatic cerebral lacerations, within an 18-year period, have been analyzed. These represent 2.1% of 3,460 children sustaining head injury and hospitalized during this same period. Total mortality was 16%. The cases were divided into 2 groups: (A) cerebral lacerations underlying a depressed fracture (coup lesion) -- 68 cases. In 42 cases the lacerations were focal without edema and/or intracerebral hematoma. 1 child died and 41 survived. In 26 cases the laceration was diffuse and accompanied by cerebral edema and/or intracerebral hematoma. 6 children died and 20 survived. (B) Brain lacerations following a contrecoup lesion -- 7 cases, 5 of these children died and 2 survived. The follow-up of the surviving patients in the above two groups has been discussed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000601:surgery; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000601:surgery*; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology; D004834:Epilepsy, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000601:surgery